Give Yourself Time To Just…Be.

As the year winds down, things can feel extra stressful.

There are parties to attend, decorations to put up, gifts to buy….and very little time to just be.

Over the last few months, I’ve been working on transitions in my business and pushing myself way too hard. And, the only person I have to blame is myself. Nobody is pushing me to be bigger and better and nobody is pushing you. Only you have the have the power to give yourself a break.

Over the weekend, I was at an apartment party in New York. Pretty soon, I looked at my phone and it was 3 am. And, you know what? As I looked around a living room crammed with 50 dancing people, not a single person had asked me for my Instagram handle, handed me a business card or pushed what they did on me. There was absolutely 0% networking and 100% fun.

It reminded me of parties I went to 15 years ago — there were no “social media personalities” and blogging was just something we did as a hobby. There was zero pressure to act a certain way or get that perfect Instagram-worthy photo-op.

Over the last week, I’ve been chatting with friends who are burnt out on the way things are being done. They are sick of internet marketing as we know it and tired of playing the game of pre-scheduling perfectly polished updates. I’m right there, too.

Instead of pretending that I have everything planned out with a list of lofty goals for the new year, I’d rather be honest with you — I don’t. Instead of pretending that I know exactly what I’m doing and scheduling out weeks of posts, I’d rather write posts like this one in real time, of current thoughts, from me to you.

What I’m saying is that really, it’s totally okay if you don’t have a plan. It’s okay if you’re not sure of what you want to do next. And it’s more than okay if you’re exploring and just taking a time out for yourself.

The end of the year is the perfect time to give yourself some space. This is a chance to reflect on how much you did get done (its probably more than you think) and not stress too much about where you’re going next.

Run your own race. Take the pressure off yourself because that’s when the really good stuff has time to simmer and happen.

4 Responses to Give Yourself Time To Just…Be.

I agree in saying, lately I don’t enjoy instagram as much as I did before.
Somehow I am tired of the über styled, perfect holiday pictures and girls posing how happy they are.

Also I noticed how addicted I am to my iPad. Instead of enjoying the moment, I constantly am distracted texting with my friends. While that is really fun, I want to take more breaks and focus on being in the present or getting something done, so I can come back to them with a refreshed mind.

Thank you for writing this! Running a business is exhausting. I’m always preoccupied with web marketing, getting content out, networking.. My one simple goal for next year is to fall back in love with being creative. The business world steals that from you.

Oh, and yes yes yes to the overly-curated Instagram feeds. The social media / “influencer” industry is in need of a shake up.

Hi, nice to meet you! I'm Shauna, a graphic designer and entrepreneur. I spend my days as the Creative Director of Branch, a boutique design studio. This is my personal blog, which has been going strong since 2007. I'm obsessed with shoes, llamas and traveling. Read more…

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